Journal of Engg. Research Vol. 7 No. (1) March 2019 pp. 1-18 Promotion of Urban Resilience with Citizens’ Local Participation Approach Case Study: Bonab City Ali Majnouni-Toutakhane* Vakil Heidari Sareban** *Faculity of Art and Architecture, University of Bonab, Bonab, Iran *Corresponding Author: [email protected] **Associate Professor of Geography and Rural Planning, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardebil, Iran **[email protected] ABSTRACT Nowadays, many hazards threaten urban life seriously. Urban resilience is very significant to encounter these risks. Urban resilience development has some basic prerequisites such as broad participation of citizens. The purpose of this paper is to review the role of citizens’ participation in urban resilience improvement. This is an applied descriptive- analytic research. Also the type of research is correlational-causal. Subjects are the residents living in 13 of urban districts of Bonab in Iran. Using simple random sampling method and Cochran formula the sample size obtained is 400. Also, Pearson correlation test and stepwise multivariate regression test are accomplished. Face validity of the questionnaire was conformed by university professors. By making use of Cronbach’s alpha special formula the reliability of research questionnaire obtained is 0.901 for participation questionnaire and 0.896 for urban resiliency questionnaire. The results of Pearson’s test show that the majority of participation variables are correlated with variables of urban resiliency. Also, results of multivariate regression illustrated that physical participation instrumentation variable is more powerful to explain variations of urban resiliency and educational-promotional, political-administrative, and intellectual-financial variables, respectively, are the remaining variables. These five variables are capable of explaining 0.87 percent of urban resiliency variations. Finally, practical suggestions on urban resiliency improvement through citizens’ participation invitation are provided. Keywords: Urban Resilience, Citizen Participation, Risks, Crisis Management, Bonab. INTRODUCTION Massive growth of cities and centralization of facilities and services in city centers has made two-thirds of the global population to live in urban environments. Widespread aggregations of population in downtowns have created many socioeconomic, political, environmental, and especially physical problems in urban areas (Miao, 2011). Moreover, broad influx of poor population and almost refugees to the cities have made urban environments fragile and vulnerable against various natural-hazards and man-made hazards (Kohlhase, 2013). Issues and problems of new-fashioned cities are so extensive and deep that governments have not enough financial and technical resources and capabilities to eliminate them (Miao, 2011). Governments’ inability to eliminate urban issues and vulnerability of urban areas, specially in the third world, has induced proposition of different issues and models in urban management domain (Breuste, 2013). The ineffectiveness of models and theories on urban management is entitled top-down management approaches, which developed new urban management theories that mostly rely on citizens’ participation in decision making processes, and today they are called top-down management (Breuste, 2013). The urban management approach is the newest theory in urban management. Positive and productive results of the approach made it the most important approach in urban management in all developed countries (Beatley, 2012). Reduction of the cost of urban development plans, promotion of citizens’ social capacity and their capacity building, promotion of the success factor of plans and projects, construction violation prevention, providing necessary welfare conditions for citizens, and implementation of principles of democracy are the successful experiences of the countries due to adoption of participatory approach in urban management system. Indeed, participatory approaches motivate citizens’ real participation in decision making of urban authorities to apply their viewpoints to promote their socio- 2 Promotion of Urban Resilience with Citizens’ Local Participation Approach Case Study: Bonab City political capabilities; thus, real participation in urban management means mutual relation of people with urban management so that they could affect positively and helpfully (Portney & Berry, 2010). Arnesterins believe that effective participation enables citizens to participate in decision making to promote planning results in accordance with their collective needs for final promotion of their socio-political capabilities (Arnesterins, 2006). Also, Abbott believes that, in participatory urban management, citizens must be capable enough of identifying themselves and try to utilize their individual and collective thoughts to cope with urban issues and problems. Also, Eizenberg observed that citizens’ participation in urban development planning process depends on their knowledge on urban districts, because they may recognize damage and challenges of their habitat, and their participation is considered a very powerful tool to eliminate these issues. They recognize probable issues and they will reduce vulnerability factor in the future (Eizenberg, 2012). Moreover, Evans and Campos observed that importance of citizens’ participation can be perceived when there is a correlation with their participation, individual strength and also the community is not anticipated to know how to face threats and risks. They observe that citizens and authorities can anticipate costs and benefits to reduce costs of accidents. In other words, citizens’ participation helps them distribute pressure of risks among people and civic groups (Evans & Campos, 2013). Scientists of different disciplines observed that participation approach adoption of district-based management in cities is highly capable of reducing concerning damage of natural and man-made risks known as urban resilience. Accordingly, Hartz and Meister (2011) believe that citizens’ pre-accident participation is the most helpful measure to protect cities against risks. In this regard, they have approached the authorities and planners about the fact that it is a necessity to build resilient cities and to retrofit them; citizens must know risks; their general awareness must be improved through training (Hartz and Meister, 2011); therefore, urban resilience includes planning and urban management by minimizing man fatality and imposed economic losses, to protect and support continuing livelihood, citizens’ life and health (Stumpp, 2013). Ahern observed that urban resilience includes recognition of influence manner of socio-economic, institutional, political, and executive capacities of urban communities against every eventual risks that is formed through citizens’ public participation. He observed that urban resilience includes four dimensions, named economic, social, environmental, and physical, as well as institutional-structural (Ahern, 2011 ). In relation to significance of participation in urban resilience, Norris et al. observed that citizens’ social capacities through public participation are basically very important for urban resilience as a modern heritage of urban management (Norris, 2008). Also, Müller defined urban resilience as resistance against natural disasters. He observed that urban resilience makes it resistant against natural and man-made disasters without destructive losses and damage, without losing production power or quality of life. Citizens of a resilient city have public perception mean while they try to promote resilience level of their community through social participation and promotion of capacities and capabilities for public benefit (Müller, 2011). Also, Stevens et al. observed that there are many effective factors on citizens’ participation in urban resilience including citizens’ social capacities and capabilities, horizontal relations, income, education, occupation, and social justice (Stevens et al., 2010). Kaplan observed that urban resilience is peoples’ capacity to confront hard conditions and their flexible response to imposed pressers on themselves and fellows (Kaplan, 2005). Moreover, some scientists named Tanner and Jabareen observed that urban resilience has stable and complex networks of physical and man- made systems. These systemic networks are urban components and constructive elements that give identity to the city (Jabareen, 2013; Tanner, 2009). Ernston et al. discovered the role of social capital, knowledge, awareness, and skill in promotion of urban resilience; they have mentioned these variables on citizens’ participation in urban resilience (Ernstson, 2010). Keck and Sakdapolrak focused on role of effective elements of citizens’ participation in development of resilient city, access, ownership, institutional relations, institutional performance, and institutional platform. Generally, we can conclude that adoption approach of participatory management on urban resilience utilizes citizens’ potential social capacities to reduce life and financial casualties during accident. Accident-prone is an inseparable feature of the most lands in Iran and East Azerbaijan province as well as Bonab county; thus Moradi (2011) studied surrounding faults of Azerbaijan and he concluded that all rural and urban settlements of the region including the Bonab county are exposed to enormous and average earthquakes caused by such faults as the fault in north Tabriz, the fault